And what does this have to do with anything? Can't be a fan until I spend thousands on tickets or something?

No, not at all. My brother is also a Pens fan living in Brooklyn. Has been since 1990. The point is, the Penguins do not make a dime off you. The new Hartford team would be expected to make money off the people in connecticut. When you have fans of other teams already in the area, it makes it hard. Yes, maybe they gain fans from Parts of Vermont and New Hampshire, as well. However, if they are not going to games, they are not helping the team survive. The Rangers territory stretches into CT, as does the Bruins territory. Whatever fans Hartford had in western mass are likely bruins, rangers, or fans of other teams.